Blackhawks, Wirtz finalists for national sports business award

The Chicago Blackhawks and Chairman W. Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz have been named finalists in two categories for the 2009 Sports Business Awards.

The Blackhawks organization has been selected as a finalist in the category of Professional Sports Team of the Year, and Wirtz has been chosen as a finalist in the category of Sports Executive of the Year. The national awards are presented annually by Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily.

"The nominations are a tremendous honor and a wonderful tribute to both our organization and to our incredible Chicago Blackhawks fans," Wirtz said. "It is humbling to be chosen as a finalist for these awards."

Joining the Blackhawks as finalists for the Professional Sports Team of the Year are the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Wirtz is in a group of finalists that includes George Bodenheimer (president of ESPN/ABC Sports), Dick Ebersol (chairmain of NBC Universal Sports and Olympics) and David Stern (commissioner of the National Basketball Association).

The Sports Business Awards recognize excellence and outstanding achievement in the business of sports for 2008. The winners will be announced at an awards gala in New York on May 28.

To see a complete list of nominees in all 15 categories, visit sportsbusinessjournal.com.